Drew Gooden Waived By the Milwaukee Bucks

Using the amnesty provision, the Milwaukee Bucks said goodbye to big man Drew Gooden. Per the Journal Sentinel: “Gooden became the 20th National Basketball Association player subject to amnesty since the provision was adopted in the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011. The 31-year-old Gooden still will be paid the $13-plus million remaining on the five-year, $32 million deal he signed in the summer of 2010. But under the amnesty procedure the Bucks will be able to wipe that $13 million from their salary cap, including $6.7 million for next season. Two years remained on the deal. [...] Even though he was undersized, Gooden battled Dwight Howard and other elite centers and held his own. Gooden averaged 13.7 points, his best number since the 2004-’05 season, and made 46 starts during the lockout-shortened season. But Gooden was lost in the shuffle of Bucks big men last season and rarely got playing time. The emergence of Larry Sanders, Ersan Ilyasova, John Henson and Ekpe Udoh kept Gooden out of the rotation. Gooden was frustrated by his lack of playing time but saluted the Bucks fans for remaining behind him and chanting ‘We want Drew’ at home games. He played in just 16 games and averaged 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds. Gooden was inactive for 13 games and did not play due to coach’s decision 53 times. It was clear Gooden did not fit in the Bucks’ ongoing youth movement including Henson and Sanders. And the Bucks recently agreed to a three-year, $15 million deal with Zaza Pachulia to serve as the backup center. The well-traveled Gooden was the fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft, selected by Memphis.”